Flying-machine.



M. scHTzE.

FLYING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG|8| 1 9Il. 1,1639694. Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

M. scHU'rzE'. FLYING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG.8. I9II,

Patonted Dec. 14, 1915.

2 IIHEETIZv-SHEET 2- FLYING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 14k, 1915.

Application led August 8, 1911. Serial No. 643,026.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, MARTIN SCIITZE, .a citizen of' the United States, and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flying-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in disadvantageous when propelling in a lateral wind. In prior machines of this class it has also been customary to have one or more fixed planes the function of which is limited to supporting the weight of the machine. Planes so fixed require additional planes the principal function of which is limited to maneuvering the machine. Such an arrangement necessitates a certain amount of duplication in the plane areas of the machine.

One of the principal objects of my invention is to have all the supporting planes independently movable in such a manner that all of them may take essential parts in all the maneuvering operations of the machine, thus simplifying, concentrating and 'extending, the uses of the machine. Prior machines show great length in proportion to Awidth, the distance from front to rear planes often being nearly as great as the lateral extent. The apparent purpose of these proportions is longitudinal stability. As a matter of fact, as shownV by many accidents,

such stability is not secured by this means.

One of the reasons of this failure is, obviously, that great longitudinal extent, once the longitudinal equilibrium is seriously disturbed, retards to a dangerous degree the process of restablishing equilibrium.Y A short longitudinal extent, on the other hand, produced by the closest possible arrangement of supporting and maneuvering planes, readily manipulated, and in which any possibility of the planes blanketing one another is obviated, by substituting a more sensitive and more readily controllable equilibrium for the dead equilibrium ofgreat length, brings about greater longitudinal security.

One object of my invention is to provide a machine of the'class described, in which all such vertical planes are unnecessary, and in which the lateral steering is accomplished by means of the supporting planes.

-A. further object of my invention is to provide a machine in which the supporting planes are so movable that they may be operated not only to accomplish lateral steering, but also as well, vertical steering and balancing.

A further object of my invention is to provide a simplified and efficient form of such an arrangement, free from as many complications as possible, so that it may be easily and efficiently operated.

Further objects, features and advantages will more clearly appear from the detailed description given below, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure. 1 is a plan view of a machine embodying my invention in one form, certain parts being removed, and the whole being shown somewhat diagram-matically, in order that the same may be more clear. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side view of the machine shown in Fig. 1. Fig. -L is a plan view of a modified form of machine. Fig. 5 is a plan view of still another modified form of machine. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing different positions which the supporting planes may assume.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, 1 represents a suitable frame carrying an engine 2, for driving a propeller 3, in a well known manner. Journaled in suitable bearings in the frame are twoforward axles -f and These axles havev rigidly secured thereto pulleys 6 ,and 7, respectively, over which pass suitable ropes or chains. The pulleys (3 and 7 are manually and independently operated by means of hand wheels S and 9, in any well known and convenient manner, and the hand wheels may be locked in any position in any well known or convenient manner. The axles l and 5 extend laterally from the body of the machine, and slightly upwardly and forwardly. as clearly indicated in the drawings.

The axles l and 5 have rigidly secured therewith suitable frames 10 and 11, which frames carry and support the two forward planes 12 and 13. It'will thus be seen that by turning the hand wheel 8, the plane 12 '6 5 rear edges' slightly above their front edges.

may be rotated about an axis co-incident with the axle 4, and that by turning a hand wheel 9 the supporting plane 13 may be independently rotated on its axis co-incident with the axle 5.

In a similar manner I provide two axles 14 and 15 also suitably journaled in the frame of the machine but in the rear of the axles 4 and 5. AThe axles 14 and 15 have rigidly secured thereto pulleys 16 and 17, over which pass suitable ropes or chains. The pulleys 16 and 17 are operated by means of hand wheels 19 and 20, so that each pulley may be independently operated. The axles 14 and 15 have rigidly secured thereto supporting frames 21 and 22, which frames carry the supporting planes 23 and 24. Thus by turning one or the other of the hand wheels 19 or 20, either one of the planes 23 or 24 may be rotated about its axis co-incident with its axle 14 or 15, as lthe case may be.

The supporting planes 12 and 13 are comparatively narrow at their inner ends, that is, near the body of the machine, but are wider at their uter ends, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.`- On the other hand the supporting planes 23 and 24 are relatively wide at their inner ends" near the body of the machine, but taper down toward their outer. ends where they are relatively narrow.

lIt'will therefore be seen that I have provided a machine with a pair of forward supporting planes, one on each side of the body, saidplanes being rotatably mounted, each .about an axis which passes substantially through the body of the machine, and each axis extending upwardly and forwardly from the body of the machine, and also a pair of rear supporting planes 23 and 24, one on each side. of the body portion,

which rear planes are rotatably mounted, each about an axis which passes substantially through the body of the machine and extends upwardly and rearwardly from the body portion. Each of said planes is rotatable independently'of all the others, so

' thatvanyone may be moved without moving the others.-

The 4forward axles may extend upwardly at a greater inclination than the rear axles which also tends to prevent blanketing and lmakes the manipulation somewhat more flexible.

25, 26 and 27, represent 'suitable guy -ropes for rigidly maintaining the varlous supporting planes in their proper position.

The operation will'be clear from the follpwing: If it is desired to rise, the forward planes 12 and 1,3 are slightly rotated so that their front edges are somewhat above their rear edges, as shown in --.Fig. 3, while the rear planes 23 and 24 are horizontal. as` may be, or possibly with their the whole,

arranged as nearly.

When so adjusted the machine will rise, the angle of ascent being determined bythe 1n- ,clination of the planes 12 and 13. If now it is desired to propel the machine horizontally the rear planes-23 'and 24 are rotated so that they assume a position similar to that of the forward supporting planes. In Y If it is desired to drop downwardly in4 i parachutefashion, it is only necessary to leave the planes in the position substany,tially asshown in Fig. 3, or with the rear` Vplanes slightly more tilted, in which case the supporting planes 12, 13, 23 and 24, form supports with supporting centers, at substantially equal distances from the center of gravity of the machine, above the center of gravity so that the machine would gradually settle down. Even if the machine was v originally in an unstable condition, upon the planes being placed in the position stated, the machine would right itself similarly as a parachute would right itself, so that the machine Awould always land o1' fall right side up.

In Fig. 6' I have shown diagrammatically different positions the planes may assume. For instance, when the planes are in the position indicated in full lines at m g/ the machine will drop in parachute fashion, if not propelled, as above explained. When it is desired to rise the propeller being started, the planes are shifted to the position indicated by the dotted lines fw y When it is desired to move horizontally the rear plane is moved to the position indicated in dotted lines by a.

The functional relations between the front planes and the rear planes have for their theoretic basis the conclusion that, the center of gravity lying substantially in the rear of ther front planes and in front (substantially) of the rear planes, like manipulation of these planes must produce different results, both as to direction and balance of the machine kand as to the promptness with which these results follow manipulation. As to this latter (promptness) beingvnear the front edge of the rear lane, manipulation of the rear planes would) produce slower and less pronounced results, on than manipulation of lthe front planes,"the front edge and axis of rotation of which are further removed from the center of gravity, and have therefore greater leverage, than the rear planes. As to the former (different results as to direction and balance) lturning the front edges of both front planes up would raise the course of the machine, provided the motor is working, while, under the same conditions,vturning the center of gravity the front edges of the rear planes up, must, by tending to raise the part of the machine lying to the rear of the center of gravity, tend to turn the course of the machine downward. Turning the front edges of the front planes down would make the machine plunge, while turning the rear planes in a similar manner, by causing the part of the machine located in the rear of the center of gravity to drop, would causethe machine to move upward.

lVhen it is desired to turn laterally one of the front planes, 12 or 13, as the case may be, is rotated slightly more than the other forward plane so that it offers more resistance on that side of the machine and therefore causes the machine to turn about. This rotation would also tend to raise the side of the machine, thus threatening to cause it to slide sidewise and downward. This danger is averted and the proper lateral tilt, resembling that of birds wheeling, produced b v turning the rear plane on the same side so that the front edge is slightly raised.

lhen the motor is shut off 01' disabled the manipulation of the planes no longer principally presents'itself as regulation of the anglev of incidence but as control of the vertical projections of the planes. The greater this projection the greater the supporting (air-resisting) power of the pla-ne. In this condition, in order toglide safely forward and downward the front planes are rotated slightly upward, the rear being nearly horizontal. To produce a spiral glide the front plane on the inner side of the spiral is turned up, and so forth. If the front planes are nearly level and the rear planes rotated downward, the i machine would glide backward. After turning as far as desired the machine may be caused to assume a straightaway motion, and the turning movement arrested by bringing the said forward plane back to its original position,

. and also slightly tilting the other forward plane until the machine again moves in a straight line without turning, when both forward planes are placed so that they have substantially the same inclination. In case ofany derangement or trouble with' the forward planes the lateral steering may be accomplished by means of the rear planes, by raising either one or the other of them in a similar manner. This increase .in the tiltingor inclination of one-'of the forward' or rear planes may be indicated by the dotted lines w and fu in Fig. 6. In case of upwardv or more or less vertical air currents which act upon one side of the. machine more than the other and which would tend to overturn the machine, -then the machine maybe bal-y anced by slightly increasing the inclination of both planes on one side of the machine, as indicated by the dotted lines u o, in Fig. 6. In this case the vertical projection of the planes on this side of the machine is less than on the other side of the machine, so that their supporting power is less and this side will tend to drop, so that if this side was being unduly forced upwardly the machine would be balanced, and the same result would be obtained if the opposite side was being forced downwardly by the verti'cal or more or less vertical air currents.

I also so construct the body of the machine, and so position the various parts thereof and contained thereby, that the center of gravit-y is substantially at point A in the center of the machine, as indicated in Fig. 3, that is, so that when each of the planes 12, 13, 23 and 241,.:1re rotated so that they lie as nearly horizontal as possible they will lie in planes which pass substantially through the center of gravity of the body of the machine. In other words, the center of gravity is as close to such planes as possible. This is an advantage, because if the center of gravity was much below said planes the arrangement would be apt to produce a pendulating action, which is disadvantageous and disastrous to the proper operation of the machine.

Referring to Fig. et, I there show a modified form of machine with a frameor body portion 30, and propeller 31. As shown in Fig. l, the propeller is located in front of the body of the machine. The machine is provided with two lateral supporting planes 32 and 33, each independently rotatable of the other about axes 34 and 35, respectively. They may be controlled in a manner similar to that described in connection with Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and these planes may be utilized for vertical and horizontal steering and balancing, as described in connection with Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The machine of Fig. l is also provided with two rear supporting planes 36 and 37, each yindependently rotatable about aXes 38 and 39. The rear supporting plane means 3G and 37 act as a single plane as far as supporting goes, so that the body is really supported about support ing planes having practically three central points of support. The various supporting planes are independently rotated by means of ropes or pulleys 40. The rear planes 36 and 37 may, however, be utilized for lateral steering by rotating one or the other, so that it offers more or less resistance upon that side of the machine upon which it is positioned.

In Fig. 5 I show a still furthermodified form inv which the body portion 5() carries a propellerl, and two lateral supporting planes 52 and 53, in all respects similar to '.theplanes 32 and 33 of Fig. 4. It will be understood that the axes 54 and 55, as well as the axes 3l and '35, extend slight-ly upwardly and forwardly from the body of the machine. Furthermore, these lateral supporting planes when placed as nearly horizontal as possible lie in planes which substantially pass through the center of gravity of the machine. In Fig. 5 the body portion also carries a rear supporting plane 56 rotatable about an axle 57. In this figure, rotating plane 52 or 53 would raise the side on which this plane is located, threatening, as discussed above, to cause the machine to slide sidewise and downward. This would be corrected and the propel-'tilt produced by rotating the rear plane so that the edge opposite tothe plane on which the turn is made, is raised. The rear planes in the other figures all serve this purpose, among others. 1

By rotating the plane 56 more or less from horizontal it will offer less resistance to a downward movement of the rear end of the body', thereby causing the planes 56 to sink slightly. Butsince the plane 56 is slightly inclined with respect to horizontal, it will cause the machine to swerve either to one side or the other according to which way the plane 56 is turned or inclined. Therefore lateral steering may to some extent be accomplished by means of the rear plane 56, although it may, of course, be easily accomplished vby means of the forward plane 52 or 53. In other respects'the modification shown in Fig. 5 operates similarly to the arrangement shown in Figs. l, 2 and 8.

From the above it will be clear that I have provided an exceptionally simple form of machine having very few parts, and very little and simple operating mechanism. Furthermore, by so constructing the supporting planes that they may be independently operated whereby both lateral and vertical steering and balancing may be accomplished thereby, I have rendered unl -necessary the use of vertical or substantially vertical planes for lateral steering or other purposes.

Although I have described my improvements in great detail, nevertheless I do not desire to be limited to such details, except as clearly specified in the (appended claims,

since many changes and modifications may .be made without departing from the spirit and `scope of my invention in its broadest aspects.

Having fully and clearly described my improvements what I claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. A heavier than air flying machine provided with a body portion, a pair of forward supporting planes one on each side of said body portion, said planes being rotatably mounted each about an axis which passes substantially through the body of the machine, and'each axis extending upwardly and forwardly from the body of the machine, and a pair of rear supporting planes,

' one on each side of the body portion, said last mentioned planes being rotatably mounted each about an axis which passes substantially through the body of the machine and each of' said last mentioned axesextending upwardly and rearwardly from the body portion, each of said four planes being independently rotatable with respect to the others and said plane: being used for lateral and vertical steering whereby vertical or substantially vertical planes are unnecessary.

2. A heavier than air flying machine having a suitable frame and propelling means, two forward supporting planes one on each side of the frame each plane being rotatably mounted to rotate independently of one another about axes extending laterally upwardly and forwardly from the frame, and rear supporting planes also rotatably mounted with respect to the frame, whereby lateral and vertical steering and balancing are accomplished by the supporting planes and vertical or substantially vertical planes are unnecessary.

3. A heavier than air flying machine having a. suitable frame and propelling means, a pair of forward supporting planes extending laterally and upwardly from the frame, and a pair of rear supporting planes extending laterally and upwardly from the frame, the planes of one of said pairs being rotatably mounted to rotate independently of one another on axes extending laterally from the machine whereby lateral and vertical steerlng may be accomplished by the supporting planes, and vertical or substantially vertical planes are unnecessary.

il. A heavier than air flying machine havmg a suitable frame and propelling means, a pair of forward supporting planes extend'- ing laterally and upwardly from the frame, and a pair of rear supporting planes extending laterally and upwardly from the frame, the planes of one of said pairs being rotatably mounted to rotate independently of one another on axes extending laterally from the machine whereby lateral and vertical steering may be accomplished by the supporting planes and vertical or substantially vertical planes are unnecessary, said forward planes being cut away whereby the forward planes will not entirely .blanket the rear planes.

5. A heavier than air flying machine having a suitable frame and propelling means, appair of supporting planes extending laterally one from each side of the machine, said planes being rotatable manually and inde-- pendently of one another about axes which extend upwardly and which planesavhen rotated to` lie as near horizontal as possible lie in planes which substantially pass through the center of gravity of the machine, and a second pair of supporting planes extending laterally and upwardly one from each side lll-5 of the machine, said second planes being independently-rotatable about axes which eX- tend upwardly and which second planes when rotated to lie asnear horizontal as possible lie in planes which substantially pass through the center of gravity of themachine, whereby lateral and vertical steering may be accomplished by said supporting planes, and vertical or substantially vertical planes are unnecessary. l

6. A heavier' than air flying machine having a suitable frame and propelling means;

a pair of forward supporting planes extending laterally and upwardly from the frame, and a pair of rear supporting planes extending laterally and upwardly from the frame, the planes of one of said pairs being rotatably mounted toy rotate independently of one another on axes extending laterally from the machine whereby lateral and vertical steering may be accomplished by the sup-v porting planes, and vertical orfsubstantially vertlcal planesare unnecessary, one of 'said pairs'of planes being relatively large in area' at vtheir outer ends and small in area at their inner ends and the other pair of planes beingrelatively small in area at their outer ends and large in area at` their Ainner ends,

. whereby one pair of planes will not blanket the other pair.

and a pair of rear supporting planes extending laterally and upwardly from the Jframe, all of said planesv being rotatably mounted to rotate by manual control independently of one another on axes extending laterally from the machine whereby lateral and yvertical steering may be accomplished by the supporting planes and vertical or substantially vertical planes are unnecessary, Said forward planesbeing cut away whereby the forward planes will not entirely blanket the' rear planes.

In testimonywhereof, I have signed my name to this specification, 1n the presence of two subscrlblng witnesses.

MARTI-N soHTZE.

Witnesses I GORHAM Cnosx, EDWIN SEGER. 

